Brexit ‘could lead to long delays at Welsh ports’

WELSH ports could lose business to rivals in England and Scotland because they lack the infrastructure to cope with customs and border checks after Brexit, a National Assembly Committee has warned.

The External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee said that lengthy delays, tailbacks on Welsh roads and disruption to freight supply chains could also become the norm without proper planning for ports in Wales following Britain’s exit from the European Union,

The committee also raised concerns that the Cabinet Secretary for the Economy, Ken Skates AM, has been slow to seek meetings with his Irish counterparts and other EU member states on the issue of Welsh ports.

David Rees AM, Chair of the External Affairs and Additional Legislation Committee said: “Welsh ports directly support 18,400 jobs, and many more besides. At the moment, Holyhead and Fishguard both work on the premise of seamless travel from one side of the Irish Sea to the other for goods and people.

“We learned that many Welsh ports lack the physical capacity to accommodate new customs and border checks, which could have an unwelcome effect including increased delays and congestion.

“We also know that there are fears in the industry that a future soft border in Northern Ireland, whilst a harder border exists across the Irish Sea, could pose a risk to Welsh ports as traffic may re-route to ports in England and Scotland.”